Mr Babbage was quite an engineer.

I can copy the text but can't get the pictures so.....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_710000/710950.stm

-- Pam (jpjgood@penn.com), April 14, 2000

Answers

Babbage was a flat-out genius. He was assisted hugely by his very good friend, Ada (Lovelace?), Lord Byron's daughter. The Ada programming language was named after her.

-- Peter Errington (petere@ricochet.net), April 14, 2000.

-- semper paratus (here_with@my.pals), April 14, 2000.

Seeing double? Sorry.

-- semper paratus (here_with@my.pals), April 14, 2000.

flora, picking nits here, avert your sensitive eyes:

The title of this thread should read the first CALCULATOR if you follow the link. Though, wouldn't the abacus count as a calculator?...but I digress... {suprising - I know...}

The first printing press that I know of was a Korean job which used clay type, not the infamous Guttenburg.

Resume now to your regular programing...

-- flora (***@__._), April 14, 2000.

Hi Flora-- As I read the article, the calculating machine was built in 1991. The PRINTER was just finished in 2000. This is not a printing press. It is the printer for a calculator or computer.

-- Pam (jpjgood@penn.com), April 14, 2000.

Pam,

Gad, sign me up for Evelyn Wood. My speed scanning leaves something to be desired! I do love Byron, though...

-- flora (***@__._), April 14, 2000.

.......and thank you for the pictures, semper p.

-- Pam (jpjgood@penn.com), April 14, 2000.